very influential in their own ways, and it is always part of our tradition that we honor those who have led us to where we are. but they are here today, and i just want to a knowledge once again, author, writer, singer, and guitar player, evangeline buell, former president of the filipino american history society in the san francisco- berkeley area. she was the national president, i am sorry. also, isabel. this is the face of women who have it in their blood to pursue the strength of the filipina women.

and to them, we offer the leadership of tomorrow. all of us to dedicate the future for both of you. thank you for being here tonight. and so here we are in the seat of power in the city of san francisco, and only in a filipino tradition can you combine power, leadership, and lupia. so i would like to call on our newest board member, a lovely -- i am proud of her. i knew her as a young girl, and she is really our host for tonight. so if you just keep quiet, you're going to get your food. ladies and intimate, board member of the filipina women's network, the one that can put power and lupia together, susie

cansada. >> thank you, tita elena. i know everyone is hungry, because i can see the line for me already. i wanted to say, i look forward to this every year, and what we think mary -- thank marily. today was amazing, and i am looking forward to what is to come. here we are. we are a manufacturer. but every year for marily, we become a catering company. we have three plants. we manufacture here and pittsburg, california. for fwn, i brought my favorite chef, who is ready to serve the fantastic meal that he is prepared for you today using are frozen filipino products. all of our different brands.

and in the spirit of october and filipino american heritage month, i am asking if everyone here can share our food and our culture with a non-filipino friend. bring them to the filipino eateries in your area, because we really need to support them. also, we have another filipino food company here, pearl with mamasitas. [applause] we had the same mission. we want to bring filipino food to everyone. if you can help us by bringing your non-filipino friends to filipino restaurants, that would greatly help. while we enjoy our fabulous friend, my brother, iran, is going to be -- ron, is going to be playing frosome music for usa

contemporary mix of guitar riffs and electronic music. please enjoy the food and drink and in the honor of my grandmot >> in closing, i just want to make a few remarks to you know, it was dr. martin luther king that said "i have a dream that one day we will be judged on the contents of our character and not the color of our skin." and when i think about the leadership of fwn, marily, president, elena, our chair, these of the two women that stand tall in my eyes. and i can also say that for a lot -- for all of the members here from fwn, that these of the

two leaders that make it happen. and i want to thank these two individuals, because whenever i would talk or interview, serving as your co-chair in the selection committee for the nationwide 100 most influential filipinas, everyone of you, when i asked the question -- how did you get to become so influential? everyone said, everyone said -- i was just doing my job. and there are outstanding leaders in every field. science, technology, mathematics, medicine, politics, social work, teachers, authors, the list goes on and on. and you are all amazing. we would not all be here today if it here todayfor marily and elena. but give them a big round of applause.

[applause] i just want to make a few announcements for tonight. for all the fwn honorees, 100 most influential, there is a practice session. that it's at 9:00 to 11:00. do not go too sleepy to go to the same ballroom where we have always met in the lower lobby, the stanford ballroom. then tomorrow at 5:30 p.m., show up early so that we can be prepared for the actual gala event. i want everybody to enjoy your time here together. this is a great big celebration. have a great evening. thank you. [applause] >> ok, i promise, this is the last thing. i have to finish my drink. there is one special person want to acknowledge that was not here earlier. she has been behind the scenes, helping all of our banquets and our audiovisual needs, really

reminded me what we need to be doing. the event coordinator mariluz. thank you for keeping us honest and on time. i want to thank our photographers and our videographers, because they really make us look good. they made you look good today, right? your video sessions in your photograph sessions. remember, those photographs will go to the time capsule. so thank you, john, thank you, emil. thank you so much. enjoy the food. as i said, drink up. and

>> we are going to begin our program with a lovely singer who has decided to join us this

evening. please give a warm round of applause. [applause] ♪

♪ ♪ [guitar] ♪ [singing in spanish] ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ [singing in spanish] ♪

[applause] >> gracias.

thank you so much. i am from juarez, mexico. the next song is one that i wrote about c-torres -- ciudad juarez, a town that has been going through a lot. we know that there is always hope. this song is about the realities of life and hope that we can all have despite any chaos or troubles that we may have. this song is called "en juarez." ♪ ♪ [singing in spanish] ♪

♪ ♪ [singing in spanish] ♪

[applause] gracias, thank you. i am going to do a song in english for the non-spanish

speakers. this is a happier song. it talks about how if we left greed behind, there would be enough for everybody. this song is called "enough." ♪ ♪ day is so dark cannot seem to find all around so tired we never seem to have enough want to be someone else the sun is so bright

there is enough for all of us there is love for all of us the sun is so bright ♪ ♪ ♪ shiny day unovers all smile upon your face every now and then, the light bulb breaks the sun is so bright there is enough for all of us there is enough for both of us there is a lot for all of us

long and short yours and mine this color, here it is it sees the light coming down coming down ♪ ♪ ♪ the sky is filled with clouds the rain is coming down the sun went for a walk soon he will be back and i say, the sun is so bright

there is enough for all of us the sun is so bright, there is enough for both of us. there is love for all of us. the sun is so bright ♪ ♪ oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ [applause] thank you, gracias. ♪ ♪ [guitar]

this song i did not really write. it talks about life in the fields. it speaks close to me. my grandparents were farmers. i guess i can dedicate this to everybody who has been involved in any sort of field work, growing up there, or even if you just enjoy the fields, being in the country, nature. ♪ ♪ [singing in the fiel spanish]♪ ♪ ♪ [singing in spanish] ♪

♪

[applause] ♪ how are we doing? i want to get some feedback. how are we feeling? it is an amazing day.

i am so grateful for this day to day. you are in for a real treat. it is going to be a great night. thank you for coming out. ♪ i am going to share another song that i wrote. it also talks about being away from the land where you were born, from your language, from your roots. ♪

♪ ♪ [singing in spanish] ♪